Tri-Parish Catholic Churches of Dodge County

WASHINGTON – World Mental Health Day is observed each year on October 10. This year, the Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development issued a message recognizing mental health as an “urgent pastoral challenge,” and invited the Church to engage with people struggling with their mental health. In his monthly prayer intention, Pope Leo XIV prayed for mental health ministry to be established throughout the Church and encouraged overcoming the stigma and discrimination often shown towards people with mental illnesses. 

Each October, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) renews its commitment to a pastoral response to the mental health crisis in the United States through its National Catholic Mental Health Campaign. Resources to promote education and awareness are accompanied by a call to prayer and action through a Novena for Mental Health that runs from October 10-18. The novena is an invitation for parishes to participate in Mental Health Sunday on October 11 and encourages local groups interested in forming a mental health ministry to go to usccb.org/mentalhealth, as well as the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers and Catholic Charities USA.

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WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of War announced that the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, the man convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009, would be publicly livestreamed. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following statement sharply condemning the decision of the U.S. government:

“It is with shock and great sorrow that I have learned of the Department of War’s decision to publicly livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan. Our God is the God of life. In no way can Hassan’s actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered. The word of God exhorts us: ‘do not repay anyone evil for evil' (Romans 12:17). The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people.

“I pray for the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel that we as a nation may always choose life even in the most trying times and circumstances.”

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pursuing a higher education that values human intelligence can help counter the many "false teachers" exploiting people's deep yearning for truth, faith and meaning, Pope Leo XIV said.

Reason, memory and critical thinking are "fundamental for both faith and mission," the pope told students from the pontifical universities of Rome during an evening Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Oct. 8.

"Reason, posing questions in light of God's word and the Church's Tradition, is an essential part of the journey of faith in following Jesus Christ," he said. 

The pontifical universities and institutes in Rome enroll more than 15,000 students from some 125 nations; they study theology and philosophy, but also liturgy, sacred music, communications, canon law, archaeology and other subjects.

Reason, faith and the warning about false teachers

In his homily, Pope Leo reflected on the day's first reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians (3:1-5), which assures the Gentiles that faith in Christ is what matters and opposes claims that circumcision and observance of the law are needed to bring the promised gift of God's Spirit and righteousness.

That portion of St. Paul's letter is "an appeal to reason, memory and critical thinking," Pope Leo said, because "in every age, there is no shortage of false teachers who exploit the religious sentiments of many believers for their own interests, often pushing them to radicalize certain aspects of the teaching they have received at the expense of the whole, which is Christ and his Gospel."

The pope told the students to "consider study as a service to faith and truth: for your own good and for the good of so many brothers and sisters for whom the Lord gave his life."

Encountering Christ "brings joy and enthusiasm," the pope said. "It is never a matter of being 'bewitched' or 'enchanted.'" 

Because human intelligence and reason play such a fundamental role in faith, the Catholic Church "has both the desire and the responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the treasure of revelation and to develop, within diverse contexts, a prayerful understanding of it, scholarly reflection, cultural mediation and practical application," he said.

"The mind must not simply compile data -- as an algorithm now does more quickly than we can -- but recall lived experiences, which contain depths of meaning that only the human soul can recognize, and connect more deeply with the goodness of these experiences," Pope Leo said.

"Routine, ambitions, rivalries and other negative factors can, over time, divert our attention and energy, leaving us exhausted and listless, quarrelsome and sad," the pope said. "We must therefore return to the heart" so that "every stage of life and every responsibility may be lived 'with the Spirit.'"

Connecting university studies with life and service

He urged students to use their time at university to forge new friendships, especially with people from other countries. 

"Listen to the longing of God," he said, and "bring it into scientific research. Let us share what nourishes us. There are many who do not have the same educational opportunities that we have received."

"Remain rooted in the people of God, value its 'sensus fidei,' and be open to its questions," he told them, and "do not forget the poor."

"Bring life into your studies and your studies into life, following the logic of the Incarnation, apart from which revelation falls silent," he said. "Indeed, the further we stray from the complete reality that the Son of God took on and lived with infinite love, the less we will have to say and the fewer opportunities we will have to understand."

WASHINGTON – When the U.S. bishops gather in November for their Fall Plenary Assembly (November 16-19), they will vote for a Conference secretary, as well as chairmen for six standing committees for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). 

The position of USCCB secretary is up for a vote due to the fact that Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend was elected during the bishops’ 2025 Fall Plenary Assembly to complete the term left vacant when Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, who was serving as USCCB secretary, was elected as Conference president. 

Each bishop elected will serve for one year as the chairman-elect of the respective committee before beginning a three-year term at the conclusion of the bishops’ 2027 Fall Plenary Assembly. 

The following bishops were nominated (listed under committee in alphabetical order):

USCCB SECRETARY-ELECT / CHAIRMAN-ELECT, COMMITTEE ON PRIORITIES AND PLANS

• Bishop Earl K. Fernandes, Diocese of Columbus
• Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

COMMITTEE ON CATHOLIC EDUCATION

• Bishop James D. Conley, Diocese of Lincoln
• Bishop Edmund J. Whalen, auxiliary bishop, Archdiocese of New York

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS

• Bishop Daniel J. Felton, Diocese of Duluth
• Bishop Louis Tylka, Diocese of Peoria

COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE CHURCH

• Bishop Steven J. Maekawa, O.P., Diocese of Fairbanks
• Bishop Michael M. Pham, Diocese of San Diego

COMMITTEE ON DOCTRINE

• Bishop William M. Joensen, Diocese of Des Moines
• Bishop Steven J. Lopes, Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter

COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL COLLECTIONS

• Bishop Mark A. Eckman, Diocese of Pittsburgh
• Bishop Gerald L. Vincke, Diocese of Salina

COMMITTEE ON PRO-LIFE ACTIVITIES

• Bishop John T. Folda, Diocese of Fargo
• Bishop Donald J. Hying, Diocese of Madison

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians "cannot accept the oppression of the weak and the poor, nor the unjust structures that perpetuate conditions of dependence and injustice," Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience.

By worshipping Christ, "the Righteous One who died for the unrighteous," the faithful are called to work for justice, peace and fraternity, the pope said Oct. 7 in St. Peter's Square.

"The Church, therefore, 'has no fiercer desire than that in pursuit of the welfare of all she may be able to develop herself freely under any kind of government which grants recognition to the basic rights of person and family, to the demands of the common good,'" he said, quoting from the conciliar constitution, "Gaudium et Spes," as he continued his series of talks on documents from the Second Vatican Council.

Just as Christ was incarnated to reconcile the world with God, the Church exists within the world as a "sign of the incarnation of God, in order to manifest His plan to make us all His children in one great human family," Pope Leo said.

Journeying through history alongside different peoples and cultures helps the Church understand more clearly the scope of its mission, he said. That mission begins with helping people "be attentive to the profound questions of life: those concerning our origin and our destiny, as well as those concerning the meaning of love and suffering."

"The logic of profit at all costs and the manipulation of information risk exerting undue pressure on people to conform to a lifestyle centered on the consumption of material goods, but our hearts are made to look upwards," Pope Leo said.

The Church's mission also includes contributing to building the "earthly city," he said, although its methods and aims are not primarily political. Rather, the Church bears witness to "faith and charity, together with commitment for justice, peace, and fraternity."

To live the Gospel fully, Catholics must cooperate with the grace of the Holy Spirit so that their professed faith is reflected in their daily lives, the pope said, continuing his reflections on the constitution "Gaudium et Spes."

The discrepancy between professed faith and daily life, the council wrote, "deserves to be counted among the more serious errors of our age."

Living the faith in contemporary society also requires pastors, theologians and the faithful to discern what in modern cultures is worthy of consideration without "watering down" Christianity to make it more attractive, Pope Leo said.

"This requires a balanced mind, free from cultural trends, capable of viewing the world in a positive light whilst remaining steadfast in preserving and presenting the Gospel message in its entirety," he said.

The Church is not "above" or "beside" the world, but rather "grafted into it," Pope Leo said, and its ultimate purpose is that God's kingdom may come and "the salvation of the whole human race may come to pass."

"She strives towards this end above all through personal holiness and fraternal love," he said.

WASHINGTON - Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Peter J. Byrne, 75, from the Office of Auxiliary Bishop of New York.

The resignation was publicized in Washington, D.C. on October 5, 2026, by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the United States. 

The Archdiocese of New York is comprised of 4,683 square miles in the State of New York.

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WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released proposed regulations to implement the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), which provides a nonrefundable Federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship granting organizations. States must formally elect to opt-in to the program in order for the children in that state to be eligible for scholarships funded by the program. 

In a brief message, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education, called the scholarship program a transformative opportunity for children across the country:

“The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the first and primary educators of our children, and that parents have the obligation of educating their children in the manner best suited for their development and needs. The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit will create opportunities for families to access much-needed resources to expand their options for choosing the best tools and learning environment for their children. I applaud all the hard work of the advocates for this law, the legislators themselves, and officials of the Department of Treasury who worked diligently on the proposed regulations for implementing the FSTC so it can be a transformative opportunity for children across the country in both public and non-public school settings.”

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV's journey to France aimed to show that a joyful or serene rebirth is always possible even after tremendous tragedy or terrible suffering, he said.

By visiting the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral, meeting with survivors of abuse and praying at Lourdes, and celebrating the Christian faith openly in the public square of a secular nation, the pope highlighted how the miracle of new life can happen when everyone comes together out of love for one's neighbor and the common good, he said during his weekly general audience Sept. 30.

As has been customary, Pope Leo used his first general audience after his Sept. 25-28 trip to Paris, Lourdes and Metz in France to tell people about the purpose of his visit and to thank all those who made the journey possible. 

He also repeated an appeal he made in France: asking the faithful worldwide to pray the rosary throughout October, "dedicating it in a special way to ending wars and achieving peace."

The motto of the journey, "That the world may have life," the pope said in English, "characterized the Gospel-centered nature of my meetings throughout the visit. For God alone, through his grace, can restore the Church and renew humanity, and it was evident to me that this is precisely what is occurring."

Notre Dame and renewal in France

The Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris, which was restored after a fire destroyed its wooden spire and most of its roof in 2019, "can symbolically shed light on this entire apostolic journey, offering a perspective that I would summarize in one word: rebirth," he said in his main catechesis in Italian to thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square.

Rebuilt and "more splendid than ever, the cathedral's restoration "was a test of the possible collaboration between the Church, the state, public institutions and civil society," Pope Leo said.

"The synergy for the common good should be the norm for institutions, political and social forces, and all those with civil and economic responsibilities," he said. 

"This is the message I wished to convey" to secular leaders and organizations, he said, "highlighting the fundamental criterion upon which such collaboration must be based: the dignity of the human person."

According to France's National Institute of Demographic Studies, the percentage of 18 to 49-year-olds who reported not belonging to any religion grew from 45% in 2009 to 53% in 2020, and 29% of the entire population reported being Catholic.

However, the pope said, there is also "a sign of renewal within the Church in France that has been evident for some years now, namely the remarkable and growing number of young people and adults seeking baptism."

A tangible and visible sign of rebirth "appeared in a surprising way" during Mass Sept. 26 in Place de la Concorde, which, he said, was a highpoint of his visit. "Priests, the choir and a remarkable crowd extended all the way along the Avenue des Champs Élysées up to the Arc de Triomphe and beyond." An estimated 800,000 people filled the streets, according to the Vatican.

Despite the vast crowds, "everyone was able to receive the Eucharist," he said, "This is the true reconstruction, the restoration of the Church that only God can bring about, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary."

Lourdes: dignity, care and healing

Turning to his visit to Lourdes, he said the shrine dedicated to Our Lady also represents "a message of hope and rebirth," especially for those who are sick "in body and spirit." 

This was another message "that I wished to openly reaffirm: every human life, in whatever condition, even in the most extreme frailty, retains its inviolable dignity and deserves to be cared for, accompanied and relieved of suffering with human compassion and with the aid of the means offered by science," he said.

Because Lourdes "represents for the entire world a sanctuary of the civilization of love," he said this was context for his meeting with a group of people who had experienced abuse by members of the church.

"I asked them to help me express to other victims too my own wish, and that of the whole Church, to listen to them and walk alongside them as they seek healing, acknowledging the pain inflicted upon their lives and working to prevent abuse," he said.

Metz and Europe’s project for peace

Lastly, visiting the city of Metz, he said, helped symbolize its role in the process of unifying Europe "as a project for peace in the wake of the destruction wrought by war."

After two devastating world wars, "Europe was reborn, founded on those principles of democracy, solidarity and fraternity amongst peoples, which owe much to its Christian roots," Pope Leo said.

"Dear brothers and sisters, may the public witness of love for Jesus Christ that we have seen in France be an inspiration to the whole Church. Let us not hide our faith!" he told Portuguese-speaking pilgrims.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV will address the risks of today's "attention economy," in which media platforms compete for and monetize people's limited, valuable attention as the theme for the Catholic Church's celebration of World Communications Day in 2027.

"A New Gaze: Paying Attention in the Age of Clickbait" is the theme for the day, which the Vatican and most dioceses will celebrate May 9, the Sunday before Pentecost.

The Dicastery for Communication made the announcement Sept. 29, the feast of St. Gabriel the Archangel, and the full papal message is traditionally released Jan. 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists.

Explaining the pope's choice of the theme, the dicastery noted that "The attention economy, with its struggle for a few moments of interest amid the rapid and endless flow of content, is transforming not only our cognitive abilities but also the depth of our interpersonal communication." 

"The lack of genuine attention, fueled by digital culture, has accustomed us to a routine of rapid reactions, to superficial relationships, and to the ease with which we label and reject others," the dicastery said. "Yet attention is a precious form of generosity," with its Latin root signifying "to reach out toward the other and toward the truth."

What is communication in the age of 'clickbait'?

"Communicating is not about capturing attention, nor about selling it, but about safeguarding it as a precious resource for relationships," it said. "To communicate in the age of 'clickbait,' we are called to 'pay attention' and to rediscover a genuinely healthy attention."

"We are called to a conversion of our gaze: to look again, with attention and with love," the dicastery said. "Only in this way will we be able to see the world, others and even ourselves, as Christ sees us: called by name and loved."

Human communication changes, it said, "when our gaze chooses to encounter others rather than judge them." And Christian communicators, in particular, "can rediscover attention as both a gift and a way of seeing -- the gaze of Jesus, who saw and allowed himself to be touched."

"Communication is not just about words; it involves the entire person and asks us to look, hear and feel again in order to answer Christ’s call," the Vatican office said.

WASHINGTON - Each October since 1973, the Catholic Church in the United States observes Respect Life Month and focuses on reflecting more deeply on the dignity and gift of human life. This year, the theme chosen is Mary, Mother of Life. “Our Blessed Mother is our model for upholding the sanctity of all human life in every stage and circumstance. We entrust all our efforts to protect mothers and babies to her motherly care, which we greatly need at this time,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, in a statement inviting the faithful into prayer, deeper reflection, and action during the month of October.

“Today, with easier access to abortion pills, the abortion rate is tragically climbing, along with increased health risks,” said Bishop Thomas. “This means that more women, many of whom have been misinformed about the nature and risks of the abortion pill, will have an abortion alone at home, without any medical supervision. It also sets up additional opportunities for exploitation by violent partners or human traffickers. These affronts to human dignity demand our response.”

Through a focused effort of prayer and action to stop the spread of the abortion pill, the Committee on Pro-Life Activities has encouraged the faithful to learn about the dangers of the abortion pill and take action by sending messages to pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies. “I thank the many thousands of Catholics across the country who have embraced the nationwide invitation to prayer and action on abortion pills, and I ask that we continue our prayers and advocacy throughout the month of October. Please join us at Respect Life Prayer and Action,” Bishop Thomas said.

Read Bishop Thomas’ full statement: English | Spanish.

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